DJGold

davidjones@a2zmobilemusic

doing a jewish wedding this weekend and everything has been set for awhile. the bride submitted the timeline and playlist 2 weeks ago and we have met to go over any remaining details. TODAY i get a call and she wants to add some traditional polka and jewish wedding music to the list. her mother just flew in from Chicago and wanted these changes. Are there any good polka compilation cd's with popular titles? :? how about jewish music?? :? ANY help would be greatly welcomed.

djdonny · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:

The Bobby Morgenstein titles are great for Jewish music, as is David and the High Spirit.

David and the High Spirit

(Anybody know the Morgenstein URL?)

Polka compilations abound, such as:

Polkas

jwg · Joined: September 15th, 2004 Posts: 1089 Location: Erie, PA

For polkas, certainly can't go wrong with Frankie Yankovic!

Google is your friend. :) Here's a link to the Bobby Morganstein series

Complete Party CD series

davidjones@a2zmobilemusic

thanks John. Your right google is great but all the results were nothing i recognized, so i just knew you guys had some tried and true favorites.
i was surprised that there weren't any previous treads regarding this topic. thanks again, and keep 'em coming guys! the more the better!! :D i-tunes here i come!

jbrown157

As John mentioned, stick with Frankie Yankovic and Myron Floren - You can't go wrong. They both have compilation discs and just about anything on them would work. When I do Polka sets, I usually include the favorite "Beer Barrel Polka and often include "Who stole the Kishka" - people get a kick out of it! This is a very high energy dance, so don't make the sets too long. This isn't rocket science - it's just fun! Listen to couple of different Polkas - if they sound good to you - Polka people will dance to it!

You might also consider adding in a couple of slower Polish/American style waltzes - something like "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (Lawrence Welk), the same group (often the older people) will usually dance to those too. Have fun with it.

jwg · Joined: September 15th, 2004 Posts: 1089 Location: Erie, PA

A couple years back, a father of a bride gave me a CD to play at a wedding (pre-digital days) from Walter Ostanek. I played (and still play) the song from him "We Love Polka Music." Upbeat, good song.

davidjones@a2zmobilemusic

UPDATE... everything went great. thanks for all the suggestions. NOW i have an idea of the type music needed. the beer barrel polka was the best received. I like it when i get an chance to learn something and add it to my list of experiences. Once Again DJGOLD saves the day!!! 8)

jwg · Joined: September 15th, 2004 Posts: 1089 Location: Erie, PA

Glad to hear it went well! Hang on to those polkas - you'll use 'em again for sure!

Sharing ideas and helping each other - a true DJ community!

jbrown157

Great job David! Glad we could help. :nod:

SteveCie

You might try the Bobby Vinton Polka Memories Medley. I have used it for many years and it Aways, I mean, Always works!
It is an upbeat medley of many of the standards and switches from English to Polish.

davidjones@a2zmobilemusic

great idea thanks... i am still learning after all these years! :!:
keep em coming.

Cap · Joined: October 20th, 2004 Posts: 62 Location: Rexford, NY

Even though the last name is Italian (capello translates to "single hair"), the maternal influence and heritage is 100% Polish.

There are several regional styles to Polish dancing and are easily identified by the artists and musical styles they play.

There is the Chicago style which has a slower polka bpm and a slight German influence in the instruments, a somewhat oomp pah pah if you will. Eddie Blazonczyk, Marion Lush, the Dynabrass and Al Gora are a few examples of the Chicago style music.

There is the Cleveland style exemplified by Frankie Yankovic, Myron Floren, Al Soyka, and the Emeralds. Again, slower bpm, generally heavy accordion and limited to 4 or 5 musicians in the group.

The New England style (personal favorite) is high energy, heavy clarinet/trumpet/sax instrumentation, and is a Polish dancer's favorite style, especially the obereks.

The artists that seems to satisfy all styles of the Polish dance are the Polka Family Band (with some really neat Country influences provided by fiddle and banjo arrangements), Happy Louie, Happy Richie, Frankie Gee (from Massachusetts), Jimmy Weber and the Sounds (a Philly group with some of the best arrangements of traditional favorites such as the Clarinet Polka, Pennsylvania Hills Polka, Peanuts Polka, Pija Kuba Polka, to name several), and lastly, Jimmy Sturr (his early stuff is spectacular).

A couple of personal notes. The tracks by Welk, Floren, the Dutchmen, and Morganstein are okay but not really as openly received as those mentioned above.

The song "Beer Barrel Polka" is actually German ("Rosemunde") and though generally accepted by rank and file, is not a Polish person's favorite. Another often used track is the "She's Too Fat Polka" which, at a function where there are always a calorically challenged person or two, is potentially an insensitive decision.

So, here are few solid recommendations from a pollack who loves to dance to Polish music:

Jimmy Sturr = Album-"Please Have Them Play A Polka Just For Me", Label-Sturr Records,CD-568;
Jimmy Sturr = Album-"Saturday Night Polka", Label-Ranwood, 8253-2;
Happy Louie = Album-"Super Duper Polkas", Label-Halo, SHL-CD-5033;
Happy Richie = Album-"I Love Polka Music" Label-Sunrise records, CD114;
Jimmy Weber & The Sounds = Album-"Great Polka Hits", Label-WRS, WRD-2800;
Polka Family = Album "Fiddle Faddle" Label-Polka Family Music, PF-1003CD

Nazdrowie!

jbrown157

Thanks for the great info Cap! It will be good to know the background you provided - I am halfway between Cleveland and Chicago both geographically and musically and we have a large Polish contingent here in metro Detroit. I'll definetely be checking out your recommendations. I can never have too many great Polkas and Obereks.